POLITICS

20 farm murders recorded since Nkosinathi Nhleko's inauguration on May 25 - AfriForum

Organisation says in latest incident Mr Nico and Mrs Marsha Lens shot dead on their farm in Paulpietersburg

Twenty farm murders since Nhleko's inauguration as Minister of Police

AfriForum requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko regarding the wave of farm attacks and murders that hit the country in the past few months. This follows after Nico and Marsha Lens were shot dead on their farm in Paulpietersburg, KwaZulu-Natal last night. This brings the total number of farm murders since Nhleko's inauguration, on 25 May 2014, to 20.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum explained in the letter to the Minister that a large number of the 100 000 AfriForum members across the country are affected by crime, especially by farm attacks and murders.

Roets further explained that AfriForum is doing their best to prevent farm murders. The organisation has community safety structures across South Africa that frequently patrol their areas and try to safeguard their own communities as far as possible.

"However, our frustration is that AfriForum fights the problem on the ground, while the political will to take urgent action against farm murders on a national level is non-existing," said Roets.

AfriForum plans to present the Minister with practical steps that can be implemented by the Ministry of Police to curb farm attacks and murders.

AfriForum gave the Minister seven days to respond to the letter.

Statement issued by Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO AfriForum, September 4 2014

RELATED:

Paulpietersburg couple murdered; AfriForum submits complaint

AfriForum today submitted a complaint at the National and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioners, after the local police and the Newcastle Canine Unit responded at a snail's pace to the murder of Mr Nico and Mrs Marsha Lens of Paulpietersburg (both in their 50's), who were shot dead on their farm, Elim, yesterday afternoon.

According to Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum Spokesperson for Community Safety in KwaZulu-Natal, neighbours found Mrs Lens' body in the bedroom, after an emergency signal came through on the radio system. They also discovered Mr Lens' body on the outskirts of the farmyard. 

"The nearest police station is 30km from the farm, but it took the SAPS about an hour and a half to get to the scene. The Canine Unit of the Newcastle Police Station only arrived about three hours after the crime. The Canine Unit is one of the most valuable response units, they should've been on the scene much quicker," Van Aswegen said.

According to Chris Fourie, Provincial Coordinator for AfriForum in KwaZulu-Natal it was already too dark for an effective search. "Farmers from the community searched along the SAPS for the suspects."

Mr and Mrs Lens were well-known in the area, and are described as very loving and caring people. They have left behind their daughter, Kristien.

Statement issued by Eugene van Aswegen, Spokesperson: Community Safety in KZN, AfriForum, September 4 2014

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